theyr parentes and superyours yet in the same is also vnderstanded and comprised the office and duetie of the parentes and superiours agayne vnto their chyldren and inferiours ¶ Seconde that by this worde Honour in this commaundement is not only ment a reuerence and lowlynesse in wordes and outwarde gesture whiche children and inferiours ought to exhibite vnto their parentes and superiours but also a prompte and a redy obedience to theyr laufull commaundementes a regarde to their wordes a forbearynge and sufferynge of them an inwarde loue and veneration towardes them a reuerent feare and loothenes to dysplease or offende them and a good will and gladnes to assyst them aide them succour them and helpe them with our counseyll with oure goodes and substaunce and by all other meanes to our possible power This is the veray honoure and duetie whiche not onely the chyldren do owe vnto theyr parentes but also all subiectes and inferiours to theyr heades and rulers And that chyldren owne this duetie vnto theyr fathers it appereth in many places of scripture In the prouerbes it is writen Pro. i. Obey my sonne the chastisynge of thy father and be not neglygent in thy mothers commandementes In the boke of the Deuteronomi it is also written Deutero xxvii Accursed be he that doth not honour his father and his mother And in the boke of the Leuiticus Leuit. xix it is sayde Let euery man stande in awe of his father and mother And yf any man haue a stubbourne and a disobedient sonne Leuit. xxi whiche woll not here the voyce of his father and mother for correction wold not amend and folowe them than shall his father and mother take hym and brynge hym to the iuges of the citie saye This our sonne is stubborne and disobedient and despyseth our monicions and is a riottour and a dronkerde Then shall all the people stone hym to death and thou shalt put awaye the euyll from the that all Israell maye here therof Exodi xxi and be afrayde And in the boke of Exodi it is also written He that striketh his father or mother he shall be put to deathe And lykewyse he that curseth his father or his mother shall suffre deathe And in the boke of prouerbes the wyse man also sayth Prouer. xxviii He that stealeth any thynge from his father or mother is to be taken as a murderer And althoughe that these great punysshementes of dysobedient chyldren by deathe be not nowe in the newe lawe in force and strengthe but lefte to the ordre of pryncis and gouernours and theyr lawes yet it euidently appereth howe sore god is greued and dyspleased with such disobedience of chyldren towardes their parentes For so moche as in the olde lawe he dydde appoynte thervnto so greuous punyshementes And as almyghty god doth thretten these punysshementes vnto those children whiche do breake this commaundement so he dothe promyse great rewardes to theym that kepe it For he that honoureth his father saith the wyse manne his synnes shall be forgyuen hym Eccle. iii. And he that honoureth his mother is as one that gathereth treasure Who so euer honoureth his father shall haue ioye of his owne chyldren and whan he maketh his prayer to god he shall be herde He that honoureth his father shall haue a longe and a prosperous lyfe And as the chyldren by this cōmaundement be bound to honour and obey theyr parentes according as is before expressed so it is implied in the same precept that the parentes shulde norishe godly bryng vp theyr children that is to say that they must not only fynd them meate drinke in youth also set them forward in lernyng labour or some other good exercise that they may eschew idlenes and haue some craft occupation or some other laufull meane to get theyr liuinge but also they muste lerne teche them to truste in god to loue hym to feare hym to loue theyr neighbour to hate no man to hurt no man to wishe wel to euery man and so moch as they maye to do good vnto euery man not to curse not to swere not to be riottous but to be sobre tēperate in al thingis not to be worldly but to sette theyr myndes vpon the loue of god and heuenly thynges more than vppon temporall thynges of his world and generally to do al that is good to eschue all that is euyll And this the parentes ought to do not by cruel entreating of theyr chyldren wherby they might discourage them prouoke them to hate theyr parentes but by charitable rebukynge thretenynge and resonable chastisynge and correctynge of them whan they do euyl and cheryshyng maynteynynge and commendynge them whan they do wel This offyce and duetie of the parentes towardes theyr chyldren is wytnessed in many places of Scripture Fyrste saynt Paule wryteth thus Fathers Ephe. vi prouoke not your chyldren vnto angre but brynge theym vp in the correction and doctrine of god And in Deutero Almyghtye god faythe Deut. vi Pro. xxix Teache my lawes and cōmandementes to thy children And the wyse man saythe The rodde of correction gyueth wysedome The chylde that is lefte to his owne wyll shal be confusion to his mother And in an other place he sayth Pro. xiii He that spareth the rodde hateth his sonne and he that loueth hym wyll se hym corrected Pro. xxiii And in an other place he saythe Se thou withdrawe not frome thy chylde discipline and chastysynge If thou stryke hym with the rodde he shall not dye thou shalte stryke hym with a rodde and shalte therby delyuer his soule frome helle And on the other syde it is wrytten The sonne vntaught vnchastysed Eccl. xxii i. Reg. iiii is the confusyon of his father And for this cause we fynde in the boke of kinges how that our lorde conceyued hyghe indignation ageynst Helie the chiefe priest bycause he dyd not duely correcte his two sonnes Ophni Phinees whan he knewe that they dyd greuously offend god And how in reuengyng of the fathers negligēce and remysnesse in correctynge of his chyldren almyghty god toke from Hely and all his issue and householde for euer the office of the high priesthode howe his two sonnes Ophni Phinees were slayne bothe vpon a daye and Helie theyr father brake his necke This example of Helie is necessary for fathers to emprinte in theyr hartes that they maye see theyr chyldren well taughte and corrected leaste they runne into the greate indignation of almyghtye god as Helie dydde and not onely in this worlde haue confusion but also in the worlde to come haue dampnation for the mysorder of theyr chyldren throughe their defaute And they muste not thynke that it is ynough to speke somwhat vnto them whan they do amys For so dyd Helie to his sonnes and yet our lorde was not pleased bycause he dyd not more sharpely correcte them and se them reformed But whan
wordes woll not serue the fathers and mothers muste put to correction and by suche discipline saue theyr soules or elles they shall answere to god for them And truely they greatly deserue the indignation of god that whan they haue receyued of hym chyldren do not brynge them vp to his seruyce but without regard what commeth of them suffreth them to ren to the seruice of the diuell Thyrdely we thynke it conuenient that all bysshops and preachers shall instructe and teache the people commytted vnto theyr spirituall charge that all christen men be bounde to exhibite and do vnto them whiche vnder god be their spiritual fathers and parentes of theyr soules the lyke and the selfe same honour i. Cor. iiii whiche as is aforesayde chyldren of duetie do owe vnto theyr naturall fathers ¶ Item that these spyrytuall fathers be appoynted by god Act. xx to mynister his sacramentes vnto them to brynge them vp and to fede theym with the worde of god and to teache them his gospelle and scripture and by the same to gouerne Hebr. xiii to conducte and to leade them in the streyght waye to the father in heuen euerlastynge ¶ Item that our sauiour Christe in the gospell maketh mention as well of the obedience as also of the corporalle sustynaunce Math. x. Luc. x. whiche al christen people do owe vnto theyr spiritual fathers Of the obedience he sayth that who so euer receyueth you receyueth me And in an other place he saythe He that hereth you hereth me and he that despisethe you despysethe me And in an other place he saythe Math. xxiii Hebr. xiii what so euer they bydde you do do it And sayncte Paule sayth Obeye your prelates and gyue place vnto them for they haue moche charge and care for your soules as they whiche muste gyue an accompte therfore that they maye do it with ioye and not with griefe that is to saye that they maye gladly and with moche comforte do theyr cure and charge whan they doo perceyue that the people be obedient to theyr teachynge lyke as on the contrary wyse they haue lyttell ioy or pleasure to do it whan they fynde the people disobedient and repugnant And for the sustynaunce of their lyuynge which is comprysed in this worde Honour as before is declared Christe sayth in the gospelle The workeman is worthye his wages Luc. x. i. Cor. ix And saynt Paule sayth who goeth on warrefare vpon his owne stipende And who planteth the vyne and eateth no parte of the fruicte And who fedeth the flocke and eateth no parte of the mylke And after foloweth Euen so hath the lorde ordeyned that they whiche preache the gospell shulde lyue of the gospell And therfore in an other place it is writen i. Tim. v. Priestes or auncientes that rule wel be worthy of double honour specially they that labour in the ministration of the worde of god and his doctrine In whiche place the apostell meaneth by double honour not onely the reuerence whiche is due vnto the spyrytuall fathers as is aforesayde but also that all chrysten people be bounde to mynister fynde and gyue vnto theyr spyrytuall fathers sufficiency of al thynges necessarie and requysite as well for theyr sustinaunce and fyndynge as for the quyete and commodiouse exercysynge and executynge of theyr sayde office ¶ Fourthly we thynke it conuenient that all bysshops and preachers shall instructe and teache the people commytted vnto theyr spirituall charge that this commaundement also conteyneth the honour and obedience whiche subiectes owe vnto theyr prynces also the office of princis towarde theyr subiectes Esai xlix For scripture taketh princes to be as it were fathers and nouryces to theyr subiectes And by scripture it appereth that it apperteyneth vnto thoffyce of princes to se that the ryght religion and trewe doctrine of Christe maye be maynteyned and taughte and that their subiectes maye be well ruled and gouerned by good and iust lawes and to prouyde and care for them that all thynges necessarie for theym maye be plentuouse and that the people and commune weale maye encrease and to defende theym frome oppressyon and inuasyon as well within the realme as without and to se that iustyce be ministred vnto them indifferently and to here benignely al theyr complayntes and to shewe towardes them although they offende fatherly pytie And finally so to correcte them that be euyll that they had yet rather saue them than lose them yf it were not for respect of iustyce and maintenaunce of peace and good order in the commune weale And therfore al theyr subiectes must ageyne on theyr parties and be bounde by this commaundement not onely to honour and obey theyr sayde prynces accordynge as subiectes be bounde to do and to owe theyr trouthe and fidelitie vnto theym as vnto theyr naturall lordes but they must also loue them as chyldren do loue theyr fathers yea they must more tendre the suertie of theyr princis person and his estate than their owne Euen lyke as the health of the heed is more to be tendered thā the health of any other membre And by this commaundemente also subiectes be bounde not to withdrawe theyr sayd feaultie trowthe loue and obedyence towardes theyr prynce for any cause what soo euer it be Ne for any cause they may conspire ageynst his person ne doo any thynge towardes the hynderaunce or hurte therof nor of his astate And furthermore by this commaundement they be bounde also to obeye all the lawes proclamations preceptes and commaundements made by theyr prynces and gouernours excepte they be ageynst the commaundementes of god And lykewyse they be bounde to obey all suche as be in auctorytie vnder theyr prynce as farre as he woll haue them obeyed They must also gyue vnto theyr prynce ayde helpe and assistence whan soo euer he shall require the same eyther for suertie preseruation or mayntenaunce of his person astate or of the realme or for the defence of any of the same ageynste all persons And when so euer subiectes be called by theyr prynce vnto priuey councell or vnto the parlyament whiche is the generall councell of this realme than they be bounde to gyue vnto theyr prynce as theyr lernynge wysedome or experyence can serue them the mooste faythfull counsell they can and suche as may be to the honour of god to the honour and suretie of his regall person and astate and to the generall welth of all his hole realme And further yf any subiect shal knowe of any thyng whiche is or may be to the annoyaunce or damage of his pryncis person or astate he is bounde by this commaundement to dysclose the same with all spede to the prince hym selfe or to some of his counceyll For it is the veraye lawe of nature that euery membre shall employe hym selfe to preserue and defende the heed And surely wysedome and policie woll the same For of conspiracie and treason commeth neuer no goodnes but infinite hurte
of the worde of god or some other good and heauenly doctrine so that they do it quietely without distourbance of other that be in the churche or els let them occupie their myndes with some holsom godly meditations wherby they maye be the better And they that can rede maye be well occupied vpon the holy day yf they rede vnto other suchche good workes whiche maye be vnto them in stede of a sermon For al thynges that edifie mans sowle in our lorde god be good and holsome sermons And truely yf men wolde occupie them selfes vpon the holy dayes and spende the same dayes holly after this fourme and maner not onely in the howse of god but also in their owne howses they shulde therby eschewe moche vice confounde their auncient ennemy the deuyll moche edyfie both them selfes and other finally obteigne moche grace and hygh rewarde of almyghty god ¶ Thyrdly we thynke it conuenient that all byshoppes and prechers shall instruct and teache the people committed vnto theyr spirituall charge to haue speciall regarde that they be not ouer scrupulous or rather superstitious in absteynynge from bodily labour vpon the holyday For not withstanding al that is afore spoken it is not ment but that in tyme of necessitie we may vpon the holyday gyue our selfe to labour as for sauinge of our corne cattall whan it is in daunger or lykely to be distroyed yf remedy be not had in tyme. For this lesson our sauiour doth teache vs in the gospell and we nede to haue noo scruple ne grudge in consience in suche case of necessitie to labour on the holydayes but rathre we shulde offende yf we shoulde for scrupulositie not saue that god hath sent for the sustenance and relyefe of his people ¶ Fynally we thynke it cōuenient that all bysshoppes and preachers shall instructe and teache the people commytted vnto theyr spirituall charge howe agaynste this commaundement generally do offende all they whiche woll not ceasse and reste from theyr owne carnall wylles and pleasure that god maye worke in them after his pleasure and wyll ¶ Item al they whiche hauynge no laufull impediment do not gyue them selfe vpon the holy daye to here the worde of god to remembre the benefytes of god to gyue thankes for the same to praye to exercise suche other holy workes as be appoynted for the same but as commonly is vsed passe the tyme eyther in idlenes in glottony in ryot or in plays or other vayne and ydell pastyme For surely suche kepynge of the holy day is not accordyng to thintente and meanynge of this cōmandement but after the vsage and custome of the Iewes and doth not please god but doth moche more offende hym and prouoke his indignation and wroth towardes vs. For as sainct Austen saythe of the Iewes they shulde be better occupied labourynge in theyr feldes and to be at the plough than to be idle at home And women shoulde better bestowe theyr tyme in spynninge of wolle than vpon the sabot daye to lose theyr tyme in leapyng and daunsynge and other idle wanton lose tyme. Item that all they do offende agaynst this commandemēt whiche do here the worde of god and gyue not good hede there vnto that they maye vnderstande it and lerne it or yf they do lerne it yet they endeuour not them selfes to remembre it or yf they remembre it yet they study not to folowe it ¶ Item that all they do breake this commaundement also whiche in masse tyme doo occupye theyr myndes with other matiers and lyke vnkynde people remembre not the passion and deathe of Christe nor gyue thankes vnto hym Whiche thynges in the masse tyme they ought specyally to do for the masse is ordeyned to be a perpetuall memorie of the same And lyke wyse do all those whiche in suche tyme as the commune prayers be made or the worde of god is taught not onely them selfes do gyue none attendaunce therto but also by walkynge talkynge and other euyll demeanour let other that wolde well vse them selfes And lyke wyse doo all they whiche do not obserue but despyse suche laudable ceremonies of the churche as set forthe goddis honoure or apperteyne to good ordre to be vsed in the churche ¶ And therfore concernynge suche ceremonyes of the churche we thynke it conuenyent that all bysshoppes and preachers shall instructe and teache the people commytted vnto theyr spirituall charge that althoughe the sayde ceremonies haue no power to remytte synne yet they be very expediente thinges to stirre and cause vs to lyfte vp our myndes vnto god and to put vs in contynuall remembraunce of those spiritual thynges whiche be sygnyfied by them As sprinklyng of holy water doth put vs in remembraunce of our baptysme and the blode of Christe sprinkeled for our redemption vpon the Crosse Gyuynge of holy breade doth put vs in remembrance of the sacrament of the Altare whiche we oughte to receyue in ryght charitie and also that all christen men be one bodye mysticall of Christe as the breade is made of many graynes and yet but one lofe Bearynge of candels on Candelmas daye doth put vs in remembraunce of Christe the spirituall lyghte of whom Simeon dyd prophecie as is redde in the churche that day Gyuynge of ashes on Ashe wenysday doth put vs in remembraunce that euery chrysten man in the begynnynge of lente and penaunce shulde consydre that he is but Ashes and erthe and therto shall retourne Bearynge of palmes on palmesonday dothe put vs in remembraunce of the receyunge of Christe into Hierusalem a lyttell before his deth and that we muste haue the same desire to receyue hym into our hartes Crepynge to the crosse and humblynge our selfes to Christe on good fryday before the Crosse and there offerynge vnto Christe before the same and kyssynge of it putteth vs in remembraunce of our redemption by Christe made vpon the crosse And so fynally the settynge vp of the sepulture of Chryste whose body after his deathe was buryed The halowynge of the Fonte and other lyke exorcismes benedictions done by the ministers of Christis churche and all other lyke laudable customes rytes and ceremonies doo put vs in remembraunce of some spirituall thynge And that therfore they be not to be contemned and cast away but be to be vsed and contynued as thynges good and laudable for the purposes abouesayde ¶ The declaration of the fifth commaundement AS touchynge the fyfth commaundement we thynke it conuenient that all bysshops and preachers shall instructe teache the people cōmytted to theyr spiritual charge First that by this word Father is vnderstanded here not only the naturall father and mother whiche dyd carnally begette vs and broughte vs vppe but also the spirituall father by whom we be spiritually regenerated nourisshed in Christe and all other gouernours and rulers vnder whome we be nourisshed and brought vp or ordered and guyded And all thoughe this commaundement make expresse mention onely of the chyldren or inferiours to